MARQUETTE — The Downtown Marquette Farmers Market has announced a new feature for its upcoming 22nd season in hopes of getting more businesses, organizations and groups engaged with the community.

Groups will be able to sign up for the Community Table to promote their products, initiatives and more. It’s meant to serve as a slot for organizations that are not usually eligible to participate in the Farmers Market, which takes place Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings throughout the summer at the Marquette Commons.

To start, the Community Table will be available at the Saturday morning market only.

“We recognize that the Saturday morning market is a fixture in the Marquette community,” Farmers Market Manager Sara Johnson said in a news release. “It’s a great place to connect with others. We want to share this unique opportunity with local entities who may otherwise not be eligible to participate with the market.”

Organizers state that local groups can take advantage of the Community Table in many ways, including: educating community members about your business, product, offering or mission; giving away swag and marketing materials to leave a lasting impression; edible samples that are pre-packaged per COVID-19 guidelines; product demonstrations or interactive offerings; and conducting surveys, collecting email addresses and more.

All offerings conducted at the Community Table must be approved by the market manager in advance.

The Community Table is available for $75 per week. During the market’s peak season in July and August, this fee increases to $100 per week. Holidays and event weekends are at a premium of $150 per week.

For groups that partner with the Farmers Market, applicants who are accepted will receive social media posts on the market’s Instagram and Facebook pages, a feature in its weekly newsletter, and a VIP market setup with a tent and table.

Groups who are interested must submit an application at www.mqtfarmersmarket.com/apply, and should select “Other” under the vendor classification prompt. The Farmers Market does not welcome politically affiliated groups.

The first Saturday morning market takes place May 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and will run weekly through Oct. 30. Wednesday evening markets begin June 16 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and run through Sept. 15. A late fall market is also in the works, tentatively schedule for Nov. 6 through Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with more details to be announced in mid-August. COVID-19 health and safety protocols will be in place.

For more information on the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market, visit www.mqtfarmersmarket.com or contact Johnson at 906-228-9475 ext. 105 or farmersmarket@downtownmarquette.org. You can also find its social media channels at www.instagram.com/mqtfarmersmarket or www.facebook.com/mqtfarmersmarket.

To learn more about the Community Table, visit www.mqtfarmersmarket.com/communitytable.